High-dimensional broadband non-Abelian holonomy in silicon nitride photonics

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the first high-dimensional non-Abelian holonomy unitary matrices on a silicon nitride integrated photonic platform, enabling broadband, ultracompact optical computing devices with potential for topological quantum computation.

Contribution

It introduces the realization of high-dimensional non-Abelian holonomy matrices on silicon nitride photonics, overcoming previous manipulation challenges and achieving broadband, high-order operations.

Findings

First realization of non-Abelian holonomy in silicon nitride photonics

Achieved broadband operation over 100nm

Implemented high-order (up to six) unitary matrices

Abstract

Non-Abelian geometry phase has attracted significant attention for the robust holonomic unitary behavior exhibited, which arises from the degenerate subspace evolving along a trajectory in Hilbert space. It has been regarded as a promising approach for implementing topologically protected quantum computation and logic manipulation. However, due to the challenges associated with high-dimensional parameters manipulation, this matrix-valued geometry phase has not been realized on silicon integrated photonic platform, which is CMOS compatible and regarded as the most promising flatform for next-generation functional devices. Here, we demonstrate the first non-Abelian holonomic high-dimensional unitary matrices on multilayer silicon nitride integrated platform. By leveraging the advantage of integrated platform and geometry phase, ultracompact footprint, highest order (up to six) and broadband operation (larger than 100nm) non-Abelian holonomy unitary matrices are experimentally realized. Our work paves the way for versatile non-Abelian optical computing devices in integrated photonics.